Dugout Discussion
15 July 2018 1453 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Sixty-three matches down, one to go. Over a month after the World Cup started, the tournament comes to a close on Sunday afternoon as France and Croatia meet at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

France will be making their third World Cup final appearance following their victory over Brazil in 1998 and loss to Italy in 2006. This is, however, unchartered territory for Croatia, who had not previously reached the final of a major international tournament since becoming an independent nation in 1991.

Luka Modric (£9.1m) has averaged only 2.5 points per game in his last four fixtures but remains the most popular Fantasy asset ahead of the final: more than 50% of McDonald’s FIFA managers own the Real Madrid midfielder.

All the money since the semi-finals has been for France players, however. Five of Didier Deschamps’ players now have ownership over 30%: Raphael Varane (£6.1m), Benjamin Pavard (£4.6m), N’Golo Kante (£6.0m), Kylian Mbappe (£9.2m) and Antoine Griezmann (£10.1m).

Pavard is the best value-for-money player left in the competition (scoring at a rate of 5.6 points per million spent) and France’s excellent defensive record (four clean sheets in six matches) has led to sizeable investment in Hugo Lloris (£5.9m) and Samuel Umtiti (£5.9m), too. Lucas Hernandez (£5.0m) is the only member of the regular French back four who has yet to score in this tournament.

The sustained interest in Kante continues to bemuse, with the Chelsea midfielder – who is admittedly available at a relatively cheap price – by far the most popular Fantasy option in the French midfield. Kante, without a goal or assist to his name this summer, hasn’t had one touch in the opposition penalty area or shot on target to date.

Aside from Modric (who had played more minutes than any other outfielder at this World Cup prior to the weekend’s matches), there isn’t a single Croatian player with an ownership over 30%. Following his goal-and-assist return in the semi-final win over England, Ivan Perisic (£8.5m) is now the most popular Croatia asset in attack.

Dejan Lovren (£5.0m) features in around a quarter of McDonald’s FIFA squads, meanwhile.

World Cup Data

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We’ve secured Opta data, not only for the tournament itself, but also from the Qualifying Rounds for Europe and South America and for international friendlies involving the participating nations. This includes all the matches played right up to the tournament kick-off.

Just to stress, this World Cup offering comes packaged with the regular Fantasy Football Scout membership.

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Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 1887.

Please note, users must be over 18 and based in the UK to join our league.

1,453 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Mighty Hippo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    The Croatian President is having a wee word with the referee

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I can see why she is hated back home with these shenanigans.

    2. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I thought it was Marilyn from Home and Away

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 17 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        😀

  2. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Nice timing with the downpour 😀

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Putin gets an umbrella...none for the others 😆

    2. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Poor Croatia 😀

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        How's the weather in England?

        1. Eden Wizard
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          30C too hot

          1. Dr Van Nostrand
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            Perfect temp

            1. Andy_Social
              • 14 Years
              8 years, 1 month ago

              Any chance of it cooling tomorrow? I'm flying in.

        2. Eden Wizard
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Hotter here than Split by the way - probably should have used the interweb before biting

      2. Eden Wizard
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Also true in the literal economical sense

  3. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    This is the first time i can remember seeing rain in this WC.

  4. @fpl_phenom
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Liking this 433...

    Martial will become Mkhitaryan in GW3!

    Pickford /.......Stekelenburg
    Azpil Robertson Bailly Laporte /.... Peltier
    Salah Martial D.Silva / .... Deulofeu Gunnarson
    Aguero Tosun Wood

    Thoughts?

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Like it.

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  5. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Tibo got the Golden Glove?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yep. Lloris probably lost it this game.

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers all

  6. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Lol Putin has some minion holding an umbrella for him

  7. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Courtois
    Modric
    Mbappe
    Kane

    Deserved winners.

  8. Andy_Social
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A brolly for Putin, Macron can just get pi**ed on!

  9. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Couldn´t they have found some better contestants for this wt t-shirt contest.

  10. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    And it rained ...

  11. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Legion d'honneur's all round.

  12. Rainer
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Prem and World Cup medal for that City social media guy, decent.

  13. Hooky
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Someone on that French team lied when he was 17

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      What are you on about? 😡

      1. Hooky
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        It's a lyric from Travis - Why does it always rain on me. Bit obscure sorry

    2. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      And just can't avoid the lightning

      1. Hooky
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Hopefully the lightning will strike Putin

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          ...if it can wait til he's shaking hands with Donald Trump, that'd be great.

          1. Hooky
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            Win-win

  14. Red Dagger ✪
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Trying to think of team names for FPL. So far I have “Butter my Arsenal” and “Inter Yer Sister”. Which one do you like?

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Two Cups one VAR

    2. Wetdream
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Inter my Arsenal
      ....

      1. Red Dagger ✪
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Haha! Both of these are great!

  15. Alan The Llama
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Putin botoxed to within an inch of his life

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      In fairness to him he does not drink or smoke and is obsessed with the gym.

      1. Alan The Llama
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        And clearly has botox injections.

        1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
          • 17 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I wouldn't even like to comment.... it could be monitored 😀

      2. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Been on the pies lately it looks tho

  16. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Lol no one wants to make any convo with Putin

  17. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Did Macron get punched on the nose

  18. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Those air hostesses are really struggling to maintain their smiles 😀

  19. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Cheeky Croat PM sneaking a trophy snog

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Heads of state are aloud touch it seemingly.

  20. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Just like the Crystal Maze 🙂

  21. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Macron with the 'power moves'. Holding the necks of players demonstrates power.

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      It was like a prison shower there in the end.

      1. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Only Putin allowed to stay dry. His time to shine

  22. Davido989
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Thoroughly enjoyed that world cup!

    Now on to more serious stuff, who is Cardiff's penalty taker?

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      updated 15k OR not bad

      1. Norman Conquest
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        don't know why i posted that here lol

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ralls

  23. Hooky
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Pitch is like the crystal maze dome now

  24. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Think they were supposed to be behind the other purposesly built platform....

  25. CRO KLOPP
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Congrats to France
    Proud to be Croat

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes they should have brought a coat.

    2. Rainer
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Great run from your boys!

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers,and best of luck to young England squad

    3. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Proud to be racist too?

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I'm not a racist,and if I offended someone I deeply apologize

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      And so you should be proud.
      Ye have entrained the whole world these last few weeks.

  26. Rainer
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    If you were offered a Kia, what colour would you pick?

    Asking for a friend.

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Whichever one my potential buyer likes

    2. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Blue?

    3. Wetdream
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Gunmetal Grey..

    4. the snazzy viking
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      silver

  27. Kizza_10
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Ederson
    Bellerin Robertson Coleman
    Silva Salah Kenedy Sane
    Arnie Aubameyang Zaha

    Subs: Boruc, Cedric, Masuaku, Bednarek

    Would you make any changes to this team or is it pretty well balanced ?

  28. Davido989
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    These stupid posts about France and Africa are really not funny. Rightly deleted.

    1. Eden Wizard
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Great idea to post a post about said posts 🙄

      1. Davido989
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Up votes my friend.

        1. Eden Wizard
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Ulterior motive as expected

    2. The Mighty Hippo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He should be banned from the site. I've never thought that about anyone posting on here before, but his ignorant comment was completely out of order.

      1. Eden Wizard
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Who was it?

        1. Dr Van Nostrand
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Borat comes with the territory

        2. Sim Simma
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          A Croat who didn't take the loss to France well

          1. CRO KLOPP
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            I did
            Congrats to France
            They deserved it

      2. Eden Wizard
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I assume Cro Klopp had a heads’gone?

    3. CRO KLOPP
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Me,I apologize,it was just an observation

    4. CRO KLOPP
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      It's like 12 croatian players come from Germany,and you say Germany has world champions

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I'm not racist,oh my god

      2. Eden Wizard
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        If they were born there absolutely...

      3. Eden Wizard
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        By your logic, none of your team are Croatian as it didn’t exist. Congrats

        1. CRO KLOPP
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          My comment meant to be that Africa Should be proud also

  29. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Great point my Klinsmann. All 4 semi-finalists had a great team ethic. They all played for the team, and not for themselves.

    1. Davido989
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Harry Kane plays for himself. Proved it, ironically, in the semi final.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Harsh. He was dropping deep to the halfway line and laying passes off even when going for the golden boot. I thought he put the team first.

      2. walkman666
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Agree with GB. Really hard to infer that Kane played for himself. I didn't see that at all. He had to drop deep cos England lacked a true playmaking midfielder. The glaring weakness of an otherwise entertaining and energetic young team.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good point.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        * dammit. reply to GB.

        True about Kane though. Don't think he ever recovered from that kick at the end of the game against Panama, was it?

  30. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    BBC World Cup outro montages are always epic. Good song, but this sporty ballerina a bit weird.